Lit: Books by the Banks

A one-day smorgasbord for book lovers of every stripe, Books by the Banks again takes over the Duke Energy Convention Center, featuring more than 100 local, regional and national authors who work in a variety of genres and styles. The daylong event includes a pavilion where readers can meet and purchase books by their favorite writers, panel discussions, a Kids’ Corner and too many other activities to fit in this sentence.

Participating authors include Katherine Howe, a New England-based historical novelist with a keen imagination; Kambri Crews, whose debut memoir, Burn Down the Ground, is getting strong notices; and David Bell, a Cincinnati native whose first novel, last year’s Cemetery Girl, was a creepy, deftly crafted thriller. That, of course, is just a tiny sliver of those who’ll be on hand. Perhaps best of all: Books by the Banks is free and open to anyone who wants to experience its many pleasures. For a complete list of activities and authors, go to booksbythebanks.org. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. Duke Energy Convention Center. 525 Elm St., Downtown.